Important mathematical concepts at the dawn of science in Byzantium : the philosopher C. M. Psellos.

Abstract

The Byzantine Empire, an empire that lasted over one thousand years, is acknowledged nowadays as the spiritual source of the European intellectual rebirth of the middle ages. What really distinguishes this great state from any other important country of the time is among others a solid conviction of equality of chances in at least a fundamental component of progress: education. What we try to demonstrate here is the fact that natural sciences such as mathematics were treated in the above sense with the utmost respect by remarkable personalities whose traditional role seemed to be far from the common sense of this scientific branch, but in its true nature was nourished and fostered by the essence of mathematics. Diplomacy and highly exerted church leadership intertwined with mathematical exploration.